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Triplets Pick Direction

I found an old thread I believe addresses my issue, but, sadly, I don't understand the responses. I'm playing Jay Ungar's Mountain House (3/4 time). One measure has a half rest followed by a triplet. A second measure has a half note followed by a triplet. I presume pick direction is the same for both but can't decide if it should be DUD or UDU. What do you think?

Re: Triplets Pick Direction

Re: Triplets Pick Direction

Have a look at where you are going next. It's probably easy enough, and effective enough, to play the triplets either way. If you need or want to start the next note on a down, UDU could work for the triplets.

Re: Triplets Pick Direction

If the second note is on a higher string than the first I will probably use DDU. If the first two notes are on the same string I might use a split downstroke for these two notes. Then, of course, you don't need to pick every note, so D-HO-U or D-PO-U may be the most convenient move.

Re: Triplets Pick Direction

I don't think there's a rule that "all triplets are played DUD" or "all triplets are played UDU." I think it's strictly mechanical--where are you coming from and where are you going next? Whatever is most efficient is what you do.

Not being critical, just musing: When people talk about what the "right way" is--like, what did Bill do, or what did Earl do--if back in the day, when Paganini* played, did people whisper to each other, "Are you sure Alessandro** done it this'a way?"

___________________________
*Paganini was known as the fastest violinist of all time; the Devil apparently taught P. before he taught Robert Johnson . See https://youtu.be/qVrkc6zRzEE and watch the speed of his left hand at 5:05 et seq!

**Alessandro Rolla was Paganini's mortal teacher.

belbein

“Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, ‘In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.’ Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.”

Re: Triplets Pick Direction

OK, that was confusing.

I looked up the sheet music and was quite puzzled until I figured out I was looking at the tune in the key of A, and it was also available in G. How are you fingering the passage? You might want to look at second or third position for the triplet so you don't get the sudden change in timbre between the D and the open E. Looking at it in context, do whatever is most comfortable picking—my guess is that there isn't a right or wrong answer.

Re: Triplets Pick Direction

Originally Posted by Louise NM

OK, that was confusing.

I looked up the sheet music and was quite puzzled until I figured out I was looking at the tune in the key of A, and it was also available in G. How are you fingering the passage? You might want to look at second or third position for the triplet so you don't get the sudden change in timbre between the D and the open E. Looking at it in context, do whatever is most comfortable picking—my guess is that there isn't a right or wrong answer.

Originally Posted by belbein

I don't think there's a rule that "all triplets are played DUD" or "all triplets are played UDU." I think it's strictly mechanical--where are you coming from and where are you going next? Whatever is most efficient is what you do.
Not being critical, just musing: When people talk about what the "right way" is--like, what did Bill do, or what did Earl do--if back in the day, when Paganini* played, did people whisper to each other, "Are you sure Alessandro** done it this'a way?"
*Paganini was known as the fastest violinist of all time; the Devil apparently taught P. before he taught Robert Johnson . See https://youtu.be/qVrkc6zRzEE and watch the speed of his left hand at 5:05 et seq! **Alessandro Rolla was Paganini's mortal teacher.

When I played in a bluegrass gospel band and we were working on a cover of say Doyle Lawson, a band member would sometimes day that wasn't the way "Doyle" did it. My reply maybe Doyle didn't do it right.

Re: Triplets Pick Direction

Well ….. "it" is always about the tune. What works in the context of how the melody lays out on the fingerboard. Mostly pick or bow direction is about the "leave" …. as in what's next and how is it played. I expect alternate strokes will work as well as anything …. let us know what you decide. R/

Re: Triplets Pick Direction

I had not heard this tune. Very pretty and suttle!

The notes are DEF#, then G (A & E strings).

I'm going to guess that the DEF# triplet in question is the "pick up" run that starts the b section (the 2nd part) of the tune. Is this correct? If so, I think the G note on the first down beat of the b part is the important place to land squarely. Maybe try Down on the D, up on the E , hammer-on the F#, then down on that G. Think of it as 4 notes. D-U-HO D.

I like what Usually Pickin says here

"Well ….. "it" is always about the tune. What works in the context of how the melody lays out on the fingerboard."

Re: Triplets Pick Direction

Originally Posted by Mandoplumb

When I played in a bluegrass gospel band and we were working on a cover of say Doyle Lawson, a band member would sometimes day that wasn't the way "Doyle" did it. My reply maybe Doyle didn't do it right.

My first instinct when I hear that kind of remark is to pack up and say something like, "Guess you should call Doyle. Bye."

“Like winds and sunsets, wild things were taken for granted until progress began to do away with them. Now we face the question whether a still higher ‘standard of living’ is worth its cost in things natural, wild and free.” -- Aldo Leopold

Re: Triplets Pick Direction

Originally Posted by Sherry Cadenhead

I found an old thread I believe addresses my issue, but, sadly, I don't understand the responses. I'm playing Jay Ungar's Mountain House (3/4 time). One measure has a half rest followed by a triplet. A second measure has a half note followed by a triplet. I presume pick direction is the same for both but can't decide if it should be DUD or UDU. What do you think?

You'll most likely get many opinions on pick direction as there have been other threads about it.

But if you go to the Videos, Pictures & Sound Files section, look for the 2019 Tune-A-Week thread and watch the videos put up by Jill McAuley you'll see some fine practical examples to emulate. Enjoy!

Mike

Those who think they should think, like they think others think they should think, need to think out their thinking, I think.

Re: Triplets Pick Direction

Lovely tune! Thanks for the kind words Mike!

Re: triplets and picking, Marla Fibish advocates for both DUD and UDU, depending on where in the tune the triplets fall. I would say do what feels comfortable for you and what seems to work with the flow of the tune best.

The following members say thank you to Jill McAuley for this post:

Re: Triplets Pick Direction

Originally Posted by trodgers

My first instinct when I hear that kind of remark is to pack up and say something like, "Guess you should call Doyle. Bye."

The statement was made tounge-in-cheek. When learning or performing a song why should I try to do it exactly like some else. That is the job of a recorder, not a musician. Ever heard of the band 1964,they do the Beatles to a tee down to the left handed bass? But what have they contributed musically. They are a novelty act nothing more.